Convertible furniture device



Sept. 27, 1938.

O. SCHLETT CONVERTIBLE FURNITURE DEVICE Filed Aug. 12, 1937 HUN 1L2;ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Application August 12,

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to furniture and especially to aconvertible article of furniture which although primarily serving as astool, bench or seat, may be converted into a table construction.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an article of thiskind wherein two symmetrically, arranged leg members are employed, theupper structure of which consists of two walls,

so arranged as to comprise spacious compartments or pockets for thereception of books, magazines, newspapers, sewing, knitting or otherarticles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a convertible article offurniture having two double-walled symmetrically arranged leg members,and wherein the two walls of each member are connected at their ends byend plates terminating in floor legs and to which end plates is secureda connecting member, which latter has means for accommodating a slidablyand removably mounted tray, and wherein the tray and one of the walls ofthe leg members are provided with means for securely supporting the trayand for preventing the tray from sliding from its position when the trayis employed as table top.

Another object of this invention is to provide in connection with aconvertible article of furniture a removable tray adapted to serveeither as side support, when in partly extended position while thedevice is used as a seat or stool, or wherein the tray may be placed ontop of the device to serve as table top, said tray comprising either asingle leaf or a combination of extensible leaves with means forsupporting them in their extended position when the tray is intended tobe used as a relatively large table top, when desired.

The foregoing and still further objects of the present invention willbecome more fully apparent from the ensuing description and theaccompanying drawing, forming part of my disclosure, which drawing,however, is not intended to restrict my invention in any way to thestructure shown, and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my devicewhen used as either a foot-stool, or seat, with the tray partiallyextended for the support of different articles, such as ash receiver,glass, dishes, etc.,'

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my device, showing its employment as atable; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View through my devicein somewhat ,enlarged form; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional viewtaken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

1937, Serial No. 158,664 (01. -43) Fig. 5 is a top view of leaves;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5; and

a tray with extensible Fig. 7 is a similar cross-sectional view showing5 the extensible leaves in retracted position.

Referring now specifically tothe drawing, numeral I0 denotes the legmembers of my device, consisting of a double-walled upper structurecomposed of outer walls I I, inner walls I2 and end plates I3, whichlatter terminate at their lower extremities in symmetrically arrangedfloor legs I l. To the plate portions I3 of the end members are securedat their inner lower edges, indicated at I5, side braces I6 ofconnecting member IT. The latter forms a continuous plate, to which areattached inner walls I2 and outer walls I I, as clearly seen from Fig.3.

From the inner faces of side braces I6 extend two oppositely disposedledges I8, whereby a channel formation beneath the long sides of memberI I is formed for receiving-a tray l9, which is slidably mounted withinthese receiving means and is removabletherefrom, and which is normallyheld in the by means of snap locking means, indicated 20. Connectingmember I! normally serves seat and may be provided with a cushionpillow, indicated in broken lines at 2I in Fig.

Inner walls I2 have upward extensions 22, in which are providedhand-grip holes 23 for facilitating the carrying of the device fromplace to place. The portion of the walls I 2, between the elevatedportions 22 and end plates I3, are made fiat, as indicated at w for trayI9, when the latter is elevated into the position shown in Fig. 2toserve as table top. Tray I9'consists of an inner board portion whichis recessed at 25 and end members 26 which are correspondingly recessedat 21. Recesses 25 and 21 form large openings at the ends of the tray,which openings are intended to receive upward extensions 22 of walls I2.so designed as to form stops against extensions 22 for limiting thelongitudinal movement of tray I9. The upper inner edges of end plates I3are so spaced as to readily accommodate, but hold against sidewisemovement tray I9 in its table top position. I

A modified form of the tray is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, whereinthe tray'proper, corresponding to tray I9, is indicated at I9. The outeredges of the tray proper are recessed at'28 for registering withcorresponding recesses 29, provided at the inneredges of extensibleleaves 36.

position shown in Fig. 3 P

24, to form'a secure seat Recesses 25 are ill (See Fig. 7.) These leavesare normally in their collapsed position, as shown in that figure, butmay be extended sidewise in the manner illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6, inwhich position they are held by two springs 31 and 32, which latter arecentrally pivoted at 33 and are provided with operating slots 34, inengagement with bolts or screws 35, which latter serve as stops forleaves 30 when they are in either their extended or retracted positions.

These slots also serve as guide means for the leaves, while beingoperated. The leaves are shown in their retracted position in Fig. '7,and at which leaf-position the springs assume a position indicated inFig. 5 in broken lines by I. When the leaves are in their extendedposition, springs 3| and 32 assume a position indicated at II. Pivot 33of the leaves is preferably secured at the bottom and center of trayproper l9. Springs 3! and 32 are of sufficient strength as to keepleaves 30 in their extended, upward position, shown in Fig. 6. Suitablehand-grips 36 at the edges of leaves 3! facilitate the operation of thetray.

The above described convertible piece of furniture is so constructed asto present a sturdy, although inexpensive, extremely practical anduseful device, which will withstand considerable strain and usage,without fear of ever collapsing. The practicability of this device isquite evident. It may serve as either a foot-stool or a seat, while tray19 is either in its normal or partially extended position, relative toits receiving means, beneath connecting member H, or it may be employedas a serving table in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, in which eventdishes may be placed on top of tray l9 and other utensils may rest uponconnecting member IT, or it may be used as card table when tray I9 isemployed, and its leaves are extended.

While used as either a foot-stool or chair, with the tray partiallyextended as shown in Fig. 1, the tray serves for supporting articlessuch as ashtrays, dishes, glasses, etc. Irrespective of its use aseither table or chair, the pockets formed by the double-walledconstruction of the leg members are always available for accommodatingarticles of any sort. a

The sturdiness in construction of the device may be readily observed byconsulting Figs. 3 and 4, where it is clearly evident that theinnerwalls i2 are of relatively heavy material, and that connectingmember H is firmly attached to these inner walls. The inner walls on theother hand are securely connected with the generously designed endplates l3, to the lower portions of which are secured the side braces 16of connecting member l'i. Ledges l8 of side braces IE not only serve asreceiving means for trays l9 or l9, but also as reinforcements for theside braces. Thus, it will be clearly understood that the constructionof the device is very rigid in its simplicity and inexpensiveness,representing some of the outstanding features of my invention.

It is to be noted that in the drawing I have shown inner walls [2 to bemade of much heavier and stronger material than outside walls ii andthat walls I2 are provided with hand-grip extensions 22. It is obvious,of course, that walls I I may be made of the same thickness as walls 12,and that the hand-gripping feature of walls 12 may be transferred towalls l I, in which case the construction of the trays may be suitablyaltered. It is further evident that the pocket formation of the legmembers represents a substantial reinforcement for these members, whichfeature adds to the sturdiness of my device.

While I have described specific forms of my device, it is quite obviousthat changes and improvements may be required in the course ofmanufacturing the article on a production basis, and I therefore reservefor myself the right to make such changes and improvements withoutdeparting from the broad scope of my invention, as defined by theannexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a portable and convertible article of furniture, a pair of legmembers, each member consisting of a pair of spaced plates, having abroad top portion terminating in relatively slim legs, the broad topportions of each plate pair being connected by a relatively heavy innerwall and an outer wall of lesser thickness, the inner walls havingupwardly extending center portions provided with handle openings, a pairof braces attached at the inner edges and lower ends of the broad plateportions of the leg members and joining the lat ter, tray receivingmeans extending towards each other from the inner faces of said braces,a leg connecting member, normally serving as seat, resting upon saidbraces and extending beneath and being secured to said inner walls ofthe leg members, said tray receiving means serving for normallyaccommodating a removable tray, such tray being adapted to serve astable top, when placed over the upwardly extending center portions ofthe inner walls.

2. In a portable and convertible article of furniture, as set forth inclaim 1, the upper ends of the broad top, portions of said platesextending above the upper edges of said inner and outer walls and beingintended for limiting a sidewise movement of a tray when the latterserves as table top. I 3. In a portable and convertible article offurniture, a pair of spaced leg members, each member having twoleg-forming plates, inner and outer walls connecting the plates, theupper edges of the plates extending above the upper edges of the walls,a pair of braces joining the lower ends of the opposite side edges ofthe plates, a connecting member for the leg members supported by saidbraces and attached to the inner walls, tray supporting means extendingfrom said braces and arranged beneath said connecting member, said traysupporting means serving for accommodating a removable tray, the latterbeing intended to serve as table top, when placed over the inner wallsand between the upper edges of the plates.

4. In a convertible furniture device, adapted to serve as either afoot-stool, a seat, a serving table, a card table, etc. andsimultaneously as a support or rack for books or other articles, a pairof leg members, each member having two leg-forming plates with broadupper portions, inner and outer walls connecting these upper plateportions so that the upper edges of the plates extend above

